Sahib Singh may be only four years old, but he has already made history.
After a dream appearance as a model for Burberry Children, he became the first Sikh to model for the children’s brand – and the first to wear a patka, a traditional head covering worn by Sikh boys before graduating from the pagri turban.
In the photos for the upcoming A/W collection, London-based Sahib is surrounded by plush toys inspired by the iconic Burberry Thomas Bear, which wears the label’s signature honey brown hue.
He certainly looks like the top model in a teddy-print puffer jacket, matching cardigan and brown shorts and socks.
But more than that, he helps people from all walks of life see the beauty of diversity, and shows underrepresented children that their culture is no barrier to success.
Sahib’s mother Harjot Kaur, who manages his Instagram account, told Vogue India: ‘Sahib had a great day with the Burberry team who really took care of all the kids they were shooting with.
“To give our son, who looks different from his peers, a chance to see the iconic British brand was truly a milestone.”
Since sharing the shoot on Instagram, Sahib has received an outpouring of support from the South Asian community, with comments and shares piling up.
Dad Ranjeet Singh said: ‘The feedback has been more than encouraging. We are still trying to understand how big this has become! The South Asian community has pulled out all the stops to give love to our little Singh.’
Represented by South Coast Kidz, Sahib is an expert at casting, although his parents try to shield him from the dark side of the fashion industry.
In an Instagram post, Harjeet said: “We have felt a few disappointments when Sahib was not chosen for a job. We never told him about shoots until he’s fully confirmed because he doesn’t have to feel the emotions involved.”
Burberry cast its first-ever Indian model, British-Punjabi Londoner Neelam Gill, in 2013, with Tarunjit Nijjer becoming the first Indian model to open a show the following year (and star in a campaign alongside Cara Delevingne and Suki Waterhouse).
As a forerunner itself, Sahib is certainly in good company.
We’re sure this won’t be the last you see of the petite supermodel.
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